Yardbarker: Francisco Rodriguez

Saito to Cardinals?

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:14:57 -0500

According to the LA Daily News, the Dodgers would like to go forward with Jonathan Broxton as their closer and may trade Takashi Saito. Saito was injured for half the season and the Dodgers are worried that relying on him would only hurt their bullpen. As for possible options, any team eying Francisco Rodriguez or Brian Fuentes could look to him as a fallback. The Cardinals, who struggled without a closer this year, could trade for Saito. He went 4-4 with a 2.49 ERA and 18 SV, but he would hardly cost the Cardinals anything.A

As for other teams that could pursue Saito, the Mets, Indians, Orioles, Rockies, and Red Sox.A

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Contracts and Trades in the offseason..

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:06:55 -0500

CONTRACT ISSUES

Free agents: Alou, OF; Fernando Tatis, OF; Damion Easley, 2B; Perez, LHP; Martinez, RHP; Hernandez, RHP; Luis Ayala, RHP; Ricardo Rincon, LHP; Matt Wise, RHP.

Eligible for arbitration: Ryan Church, OF; John Maine, RHP; Pedro Feliciano, LHP; Aaron Heilman, RHP; Duaner Sanchez, RHP.

Player options: None

Club options: Delgado, 1B, $12 million, $4 million buyout

Non-tender possibilities: None

Like last season, they have their reasons. Though general manager Omar Minaya's starting lineup is all but set with the exception of 2B and LF. The Starting Rotation might need some retooling and the Bullpen has to get a new look.

Oliver Perez and Pedro Martinez, two significant pieces of this season's rotation, will both hit free agency in the days following the World Series. And the few pitchers waiting in the wings represent a combination of youth and inexperience. It's a combination that the Mets, historically, have tried to avoid.

And so a team that boasted one of baseball's largest payrolls -- roughly $137 million at season's end -- is likely only to add to that figure. Assuming the Mets exercise their $12 million club option on Carlos Delgado's contract, they will shed four significant salaries: those of Martinez, Perez, Moises Alou and Orlando Hernandez. After accounting for increases in other salaries, that's roughly $25 to $30 million off the books.

It's a near certainty that the Mets will reinvest all of it.

Mets have plenty of needs especially in relief, but the rotation could be revamped. The Mets can go out and try to trade for a pitcher like Jake Peavy, Zach Grienke, or a Matt Cain. If the Mets go out and try to get one of these elite young pitchers they will have to use one of their Top Prospects including Fernando Martinez. Even though the Mets think F-Mart has a high ceiling and he is only 19 yrs old, they may make a move here. It is not imposible...

The bullpen needs a obvious facelift. Guys like Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis should be moved and apparently have some value left. Joey DeMayo on Mike Silva's NY Baseball Digest lastnight suggested that maybe the Mets can make a trade including Aaron Heilman with the Oakland A's for Huston Street. Billy Beane has always made it known that he likes Heilman and would make him a starter in Oaktown. Stay tuned....

The Mets need a closer and everyone in baseball thinks the Mets can go out and get themselves Francisco Rodriguez. If they fall short in the bidding for the record breaking saves leader. They might go out and see if Brian Fuentes will come to NY. They had some interest in him before the trade deadline but the Rockies were still in the range of the playoffs and they did not want to trade him.

Look for the Mets to compliment who ever they get at closer. They will be in the hunt for middle relievers. They need a left hander specialist and I think the Mets should look at Jeremy Affeldt who is a free agent.

Here are his numbers:

		G	GS	W	L	SV	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	BAA
Total		74	0	1	1	0	0	0	78.1	78	36	29	9	25	80	3.33	1.31	.260

Considering he pitched in Cincinatti, He might be better suited for Citi-Field.

Other guys I would look at are Juan Cruz. People are saying Juan Cruz, who is he??

Check out his numbers:

		G	GS	W	L	SV	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	BAA
Total		57	0	4	0	0	0	0	51.2	34	17	15	5	31	71	2.61	1.26	.192

In only 51.2 innings, he gave up 34 hits and struck out 71...

In speaking of second base, the Mets have many of options here. They have the incumbent Luis Castillo who I would trade for anything, but Joey DeMayo (NY Baseball Digest) has said that the Mets might be able to get a Eric Byrnes from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Castillo since they want to get rid of Byrnes contract and they need a second basemen (2B Hudson will be a free agent) . If that happend, I would be jumping for joy! Byrnes is a high energy player who brings some grit and toughness the Mets lack.

They also have Dan Murphy who can be the second basemen next year. He is currently in the ArizonaFall league trying to get more work at 2B. If that fails, he might be a platoon outfielder in left.

They also can go out and get Orlando Hudson who is a All-Star 2B. He is a switch hitter who can hit and play great defense.

Of Course if the Mets don't make deal for Eric Byrnes they could look at Free Agent Manny Ramirez who always has been high on Omar Minaya's list or they can get themselves a compliment to Murphy like a Free Agent Juan Rivera who is right handed bat that hits lefties.

We will see what goes on, but these are some things to think about....................

Minaya has some concerns about K-Rod!